E Sreedharan Proposes Revamp Of Kerala’s SilverLine Project with DMRC, Advocates Elevated High-Speed Rail For Minimal Land Disruption

In a significant development for Kerala’s SilverLine project, legendary Metroman E Sreedharan has stepped forward with a revised vision, proposing a ‘Stand-alone High-Speed Line’ and urging the state government to entrust the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) with its Detailed Project Report (DPR) and execution, according to The New Indian Express.

Following his meeting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Sreedharan’s proposal has gained traction, with the CM deputing his chief principal secretary, K M Abraham, to Ponnani for further discussions. A final decision, however, hinges on approval from the Railway Ministry.

Sreedharan’s plan marks a departure from K-Rail’s original alignment, advocating a standard gauge line, primarily constructed as elevated viaducts or tunnels to minimise land acquisition.

The total estimated cost for the revised project stands at Rs 1 lakh crore, with an expected expenditure of Rs 200 crore per kilometre.

Expressing confidence in the feasibility of his approach, Sreedharan stated: "If DMRC is entrusted with the project, the construction can be completed in five years. The line should be an elevated structure. This way, less land will have to be acquired. The cost won’t be very high. The chief minister is positive on the suggestions and wants the project to be implemented without delay. However, a final decision can be taken only after discussions with the railway minister."

A key advantage of this model, Sreedharan explained, is the drastic reduction in land acquisition hurdles, a major point of contention in the earlier K-Rail plan. He elaborated:

"There won’t be any land acquisition for tunnels. In places with elevated structures, only a narrow strip of land needs to be acquired. Even this can be given back once the construction is over. Only hitch is there can’t be big trees. I believe identifying suitable land won’t be an issue then."

The SilverLine project involves the construction of a 529.45-kilometre-long semi-high speed rail corridor connecting the northern-most Kasaragod district with the state’s capital, Thiruvananthapuram, in the south, and running “semi-high-speed trains” at an operating speed of 200 km per hour.

The corridor is to pass through 11 of the 14 districts of Kerala and will be implemented by the Kerala Rail Development Corporation (K-Rail), a joint venture between the Ministry of Railways and the Kerala government.

If implemented under DMRC’s expertise, the SilverLine project could reshape Kerala’s transport landscape, offering a fast, efficient, and sustainable alternative. With the CM’s positive response, all eyes are now on the Railway Ministry.